Security Council Press Statement on Democratic Republic of Congo

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Román Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain):

The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the attack perpetrated today by a Mayi-Mayi armed group in Butembo, North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which led to the death of a South African peacekeeper of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and of a Congolese police officer, as well as the injuries of two other South African peacekeepers.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa and to MONUSCO.

The members of the Security Council called on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to swiftly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.  They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to MONUSCO to fully implement their mandate.